Driver First Assist safety campaign gets CV Show debut 12 April 2013

A new initiative aimed at reducing road traffic accident casualties and improving the image of road transport was launched at the CV Show in Birmingham this week (9—11 April 2013).

Driver First Assist (DFA) is being hailed as a life-saving road safety initiative and is supported nationally by all three emergency services. It also has industry support through Skills for Logistics, the transport industry's sector skills council.

The brainchild of former truck driver, business development director at the Road Transport Industry Training Board and general secretary of the United Road Transport Union David Higginbottom, it's about empowering professional drivers to provide first aid at the scene of road traffic collisions.

"We believe we have an effective strategy to train a significant number of drivers, starting with HGV drivers, but moving on to include van, car fleet and bus and coach drivers over time," states Higginbottom.

"Our vision is for hundreds – if not, ultimately, thousands – of trained personnel equipped to take action in the first critical moments after a RTC," he continues.

"Simple first aid techniques could do much to reduce casualties while the emergency services' own ability to perform would be dramatically enhanced by receiving an onsite situation report the moment they arrive on scene," he adds.

The initiative has the support of the police through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the fire service, through the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), and the ambulance service through the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).

The NHS is also behind DFA and so is Britain's senior traffic commissioner Beverley Bell.

The DFA scheme is being developed in partnership with the emergency services and will be operated as a not for profit Community Interest Company (CIC), with management involving representatives of the emergency services and major stakeholders such as Skills for Logistics.

Companies/brands will also be invited to demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility by advertising their support for the DFA community in the form of branded vehicle decals, first aid kits, high visibility jackets, etc.

Sponsorship is now being sought, particularly from companies with direct links to aspects of the DFA operation: manufacturers of road safety and first aid products for example.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Skills for Logistics

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